White Cube. Anthony Gormley

The white cube off Masons Yard could be the exhibition itself, its fab!

Gormleys Lost horizon is exhibited on the ground floor of the white box. It comprises of the 32 solid Iron body forms which previously animated London's skyline in the 'Event Horizon' exhibition (see previous blogg entry) , they are placed throughout the space standing abruptly, suspended horizontally. Those attatched to the ceiling seem weightless, those grounded don't. One must weave and duck through them for human and inhumane encounters. Each figure has presence when looking at them too long its awkward like you're staring at someone!

'Here the haptic field that acts directly on the body of the viewer' (press release) Our 1.5m comfort zone is broken as you walk through the art work.

The stairs in the White cube are dramatic- next to them the facade is glass to the floor so, decending underground the bright white granite floor outside becomes eye level.
The stair case takes you into the exhibition 'Firmament', a sculpture, alike a celestial constellation . I got lost following the patterns which 30 by 30 mm mild steel tubing made, as it collected into a mass and dwindled in arms to the edge of the room. Firmament is constructed of 1770 steel elements and again impedes on personal space and has a direst relationship with the viewer. 'In this exhibition the viewer is asked to re-adjust continually their relationship with the field as they navigate through it'(press release) 'its form disolves and resolves throuought the gallery. Like a map of space bronging our awareness to the white box's capacity.'(press release)
Gormely's cast Iron figures have visual similarities to Frinks aluminium cast people.

Flying Figures Shaftsbury square:


'Frinks forms defy categorisation and merge human, bird and animal characteristics.'

Frinks sculptures are sureal as they are busy doing things, yet so static- they have less presence and relationship with the viewer than Gormleys people.

community agriculture video

My work on the SLIC leaflet

Lighting

CPD Lecture at EDCO Design 18th April 2008

More Light does not create better effects

Dominic Meyrick animatedly presented his lighting concepts and projects. He talked about the level of light needed for different situations, measured in lux:
home 50-150, dusk 50-150 street lighting 5-10, moon light 0.5 and starlight is 0.2 we can see in very little light.
Sky glow can be minimised with the right light fitting
White light is a low voltage tungsten colour which gives good colour rendering compared to the yellow street lighting which colours everything the same.

Daylight is called white light compared to the warmer light inside, however at night this is reversed and indoor light becomes white compared to the darker atmosphere outside.

Lighting design can cover the macro and micro scales macro could be lighting an iconic building, and micro is lighting on a human scale. The human scale rarely deviates from 4-6m high.

A good way of saving money in a scheme is to light the landscape from the buildings adjacent.

Reasons for lighting:

Security
our personal space is 0.5m (this is why handshaking is such a one to one gesture) at night this circle of comfortable distance between you and others can increase to 3m- lighting can reduce the fear of crime if done in the right way.

Safety
Spot lighting creates shadows- safe lighting will allow people to see who's there facial expressions, and age and will allow people to judge distance

Work

Movement- Leon is designed so that the main roads leading in and out of the grid structure city and lit with cool white light, whereas the rest of the grid is lit with warm yellow light. In fact blue light is the best light to see by at night and the yellow light scheme everywhere is a major error!

Leisure

Visual Appeal
Lighting draws people in at night, and can highlight different qualities of the space from the day.
theatrical and dramatic lighting has it's place, but not in the everyday public realm because of safety issues

communities within communities

The Luxurious Holland Park, Kensington.

Open City Exhibition

This is a must see, analyse and go back to, and spend hours in.... exhibit! It showcases ideas for an improved London for pedestrians in a wonderfully innovative displays encompassing masses of information. The strategies are easily digested and it's a exciting to see the work of the pro's including MUFF, MJP Architects, Witherford Watford Mann Architects, and Gross Max.

I have outlined some of the information from the exhibit for anyone who missed it and for my own reference:

Now is ' a change in political and cultural climate caused a remarkable urban renaissance.'

London is 'A Patchwork of different neighbourhoods each with its own identity.'

Artwork a collage of public views on how to improve London's public realm:

The exhibition shows possibilities for unlocking the potential of Lon dons Public Places and Streets, acknowledging the charm of hidden moments and surprises whilst recognising the need to collaborate far and wide to improve accessibility, the hidden, and connections. Strategies cover large scale change, transport corridors and gateways, blue ribbon network, green space, access to nature, public space, small things everywhere, prospects and panorama's.

'London bristles with barriers, railings and spikes.' 'The ring of steel around the City.' (Edwin Heathcote)

In our fight to tackle antisocial behaviour in urban areas we have crammed the streets with clutter and signs forbidding and restricting, often having an adverse effect on behaviour.

Pedestrians prevail

The 1960's car based approach to planning has led to the need to re- address the balance between pedestrian, cyclists and cars- aim is to increase the amount of infrastructure which is for the human scale.

The River

The City to sea path capitalise upon the investment of the East End Thames public spaces connected to the Olympics. It will extend the Thames path to the end of the estuary- NICE!

Projects and Practices:

Victoria Embankment by MJP Architects

is littered with gardens, monuments and memorials, it has a rich history, yet cars rule- and it is not as well used as its moulded partner- the south bank. MJP Architects have considered all the layers of the landscape rigorously; transport, history, pedestrians, overview, sound scape, landscape, environment, the string of beads (meaning important buildings along Victoria Embankment) and public art. Their design is widening the path next to the river and introducing a tree scattered walkway.

Potters Field Park by Gross Max

AKA big news! Another public space for the South bank a place to take a break and for public events, for views of the Tower of London , the Thames and the city skyline. The 'green oasis' contrasts to the paved areas of the Scoop which was developed as a part of 'More for London', it sits next to the GLA building.
The exhibition hosts some really seductive plans and elevations by Gross Max, and I look forward to the planting area designed by the fabulous Piet Oudolf to flourish.

I like the movement patterns and parallel edges with different speed zones i.e river, pedestrian walkway, park out skirts, park centre, then planting towards the back.

The Bankside Urban Forest by Witherford Watford Mann Architects

'The emphasis is not on beautification, but rather how the public realm can 'work harder' and be occupied and shared by more different players, more ages.'

They are rigorous and thorough with their approach, the images are inviting and they cover every influence both existing and predicted for the urban forest. The scheme creates lively, pedestrian friendly places through planting, lighting and landscaping.

Labelling and zoning, Layers of the Landscape : pedestrian movement, urban interior, land use- dominant, -day/night, institutional players, local networks, hidden places, places of exchange- bringing people into contact, seeds of framework, spreading roots, maturing of framework

Rides- straight routes alike cutting through royal hunting forests

Streams- oldest pathways and roads

clearings- places people navigate to to sit and read, meet or eat.

Barking Town Center By Muf

click for MUF